Application Questions

Read and analyze the following dialogs. Answer the questions related to one of them on the blog.

#1 A good school? (Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Rashid are both parents of students in the district where Mrs. Thomas also teaches.)
Mrs. Thomas: Johnny has Mr. Smith as a teacher next year. I hear he is an excellent teacher.
Mrs. Rashid: He's very nice.
Mrs. T: Are you happy with the school district?
Mrs. Rashid: There are many lovely people in the neighborhood

1. Choose one dialog. Identify where the miscommunication occurs. Explain what each speaker might be thinking.

The miscommunication occurred when Mrs. Thomas asks Mrs. Rashid if she is happy with the school district.  Mrs. Thomas is a teacher in the district, so therefore it is clear that she understands what a school district is and intentionally referred to the district.  Mrs. Thomas made the assumption that Mrs. Rashid was familiar with the term “school district”.  Mrs. Rashid, however, thought that Mrs. Thomas was referring to the neighborhood, which is why she responded with a comment about the neighborhood.  

2. Explain what cultural factors may contribute to the miscommunication in the conversation. Post your answers on the blog; be sure to identify which conversation you are referring to.

Mrs. Thomas may not be familiar with the concept of a school district.  Different places may not use this term or do not divide their schools into districts.  Based on her cultural background, Mrs. Thomas related this term to a neighborhood.